Oscar's Family Tree Filling Out

Black Friday 2012 was an amazing day for discoveries of the extended family of Oscar Langford. It took us from New York, to Canada, Ohio, back to New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Washington, Idaho and Illinois. It is the kind of day that keeps genealogy interesting and rewarding.

I have now tentatively identified the following as brothers and sisters of Oscar Langford:

Charles Langford, born 1816, traveled to Jackson County Iowa and established a lumber business in Whiteside County, Illinois, very near where we now live.

Jeanette Langford, married Peter Wise, a cabinet maker in Fredonia

Harriett Langford, married name McGinnis, lived in Iowa and Ohio

Mary Langford, married Merritt Allen, lived in NY and Wisconsin.

Jane Langford, also married Merritt Allen after sister Mary died in Wisconsin.

William G. Langford, born 1831, territorial judge in Washington Territory. Practiced law in Vancouver Washington, where our son Tim now lives. Was the last territorial judge in Washington Territory before statehood, having been appointed by President Grover Cleveland.

James Langford, 1825-1847, worked at the Fredonia Censor

Oscar included this brings the number of siblings to eight. Oscar cites their being ten Langford brothers and sisters.

Oscar's letters to the Fredonia Censor named Jeanette, Harriett, Mary (Maggie), Jane and James. He also mentioned having other relatives and their locations around the state of New York. Both Charles and William mention their parents as Charles Langford and Fannie Mansfield Langford. The Fredonia Censor has a death notice for Fannie Langford in 1840. This matches with a biographical sketch of William saying that his mother, Fannie, died in Chautauqua County New York when he was nine years old. It goes on to say that the family moved to Jackson County Iowa.

I will try to post a family tree to explain the descendancy and relationships that are becoming more clear with every search. My sources for this information were Oscar's letters and biographical sketches of prominent early settlers and leaders for Whiteside County, Illinois, and Walla Walla, Washington.